Standing on the Promises

It was a cross-roads church in a rural area.  The preacher wound up his eloquent sermon with a question:  “Now–are you standin’ on the PROMISES…or are you sittin’ on the PREMISES??”  This Second Sunday of Lent involves the question of What’s Beyond?,

or what are our ongoing hopes and dreams as we realize that we shall be Easter People?

Abraham and his faith figure greatly in this discussion of Holy Covenant.  You remember, of course, that a Contract is an agreement where one party will do such-‘n’-such IF the other party will do theirs.  But a Covenant is not dependent on The Other:  each party expects to play their part IRREGARDLESS of the behavior of the Other.  So it is in Genesis 17:1-7–God promises Abram/Abraham to be “exceediingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.”  This Covenant extends to all of Abraham’s offspring: we believe ourselves to be such, even though adopted by Christ’s love!

St. Paul picks up this thread in his Letter to the Romans (4:13-25).  The Apostle reminds us that this promise of Divine Inheritance comes not through the Law (“I’m good; or at least, correct”) but through Faith (” I believe, help my moments of doubting”).  Abraham hoped against hope that he would become “the father of many nations”–although he was 99 years old!  “No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God…” (v.20)  He was “fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”

Mark’s concise Gospel includes this Promise of Jesus:  “Those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.” (8:35)   Often described as a paradox, it’s more than double-speak from a mystic.  This promise sorts out those who’re content with their own kingdom from the fewer who deny themselves–getting off their ego-trip–to pick up “their cross”.  This “cross” isn’t just the endurance of a trying situation or the bad hand dealt by Fate.  The “cross” is a mission deliberately chosen, painful or deadly as it may be.

Holy Promises are born out in so many personal ways.  These weeks of Lent are our annual invitation to consider the richness of our lives despite our stumbling in the dark.  God’s steadfast love continues to beckon us to God’s hospitality and table, prepared for the Children of Abraham and not revoked.  When “all other ground is sinking sand” it’s good to have somewhere to stand…